Tuesday, August 31, 2010

All Eyes On You: Swinging 60’s eye definition


The 60’s is a decade I still love to draw inspiration from. The fashion & the music from that era is like a never dwindling goldmine full of fun, dramatic and eclectic styles and sounds. Above is a look that is very distinct of the 60’s - matte porcelain skin, pale lips and dramatically defined eyes with huge lashes. Please follow below steps to achieve this look.

1. Base is key here. When you are putting extra enhancement and definition on the eyes it is key that any blemishes or redness in the skin is well hidden. Use powder to cream foundation or a liquid base with a matte finish and set with a good mineral powder. The face is kept matte, matte, and matte – no shimmer in this look, please!

2. Dust a little of a peach/apricot blush just underneath the highest point of the cheek bones and blend well. If you have olive or darker skin, go more towards a bronze or a rose hue.

3. Prime lids to ensure smooth application and staying power. Smooth a white or a nude matte shadow onto lids and blend all the way up to the eyebrow.

4. Next, line upper lash line with a jet black liquid liner winging line outwards and upwards at the outer corner of the eyes.

5. Using a fine brush and a jet black shadow, carefully draw a line into the crease of the eye, following your eyes natural shape. This look is meant to be graphic with quite “harsh” lines, so don’t blend the black into the crease of the eye. Draw it on using small short strokes and again, “winging” the line upwards and outwards at the outer corner of the eye.

6. Draw on “fake lashes” onto the lower lash line. Hold the brush vertical and then dot on the black, smudging it into lash roots, leave a ½-1 cm gap between each black dot.

7. Time for mascara – slap it on! Does not have to be perfect - a little clumpy application just adds to this look! Let first layers dry and then apply more. You will need at least 4-5 layers of mascara to achieve this look. Fake lashes are also a good alternative here if you want to go all the way.

8. Lastly, “kiss” a piece of paper to remove any moistness from lips and then apply one thin layer of a matte lipstick in a very light color, for example: baby pink, light coral, or a nude skin tone. Once applied dust a very thin layer of a loose powder onto lips to set, mattifye and create a long lasting surface. You will be a real stunner! Don’t “overdo” this look by matching it with other 60’s trademarks. (Don’t back comb your hair or wear a baby doll dress!) A look always seems more modern and individual when you mix things up a bit! Wear you hair down, loose and unfixed and your favorite well fitted jeans and a t-shirt for updated & doll faced every day glamour with a rock ‘n roll twist!

Have fun and don’t forget to shake it up!

Love,
Sara x x x x x x

Thursday, August 26, 2010

An August in Europe

Hey there lovely ones!

Hope everyone has had an amazing summer! I can not believe it’s nearly over - it’s literally rushed by! I spent most of August in my native Sweden but I also squeezed in a stop in London (naturally!). Therefore, I will dedicate this blog to a few of my favorite home-away-from-home spots in these two trendy and fashion forward cities - if you find yourself on the other side of the pond make sure to make a stop!

The Troubadour London:
I swigged a couple of glasses of rose and caught up with friends over lunch. During my 10 years living in London, people would joke that I was literally part of the furniture in this place. I sang there regularly but also met some of (to this day) my absolute dearest friends. Go there to catch new upcoming bands, some proper old school rock ‘n rollers and well established musicians & artists. Truly famous for its bohemian vibe - this is a place where A-listers, scruffy poets and royalties hang out alike.


Miss Juniversum – Malmo Sweden:
Owned and run by my talented friend Jun (yes, miss juniverse) this store is well worth a visit if you happen to visit the Swedish south and its slightly edgy town of Malmo. She sells a rainbow array of craziness - don’t really know how else to put it! She simply adds an alternative “if you don’t want your house to look like an IKEA catalogue” I think she offers so much more! She sells everything you think you did not need until you laid your eyes on it: huge pink flamingos, red lip telephones, clothes & jewelry and pretty much everything else under the sun. You’ll leave the store not being able to carry more!


The deepest Swedish forest:
Never seen fairies, trolls or pixies? Easy, travel to Sweden and hang out in the forest, it is not a coincidence that so many famous fairy tales were written here…Call me crazy but I heard stories about them early on as a little girl from my grandma as we would stroll through the moss, collecting wild berries and mushrooms and believe me, I don’t think these folktales came to be because of nothing! I love the Swedish forest dearly, it is as far away from luxury but as close to nature as you can get! And honestly, I can sit by some fancy pool sipping a cocktail any other day. Our little house in the deepest forest with no neighbors is one of my favorite hide always!


F12 Terrace Stockholm:
This night club in Stockholm is always CRAZY packed with people hanging out on the castle-like stairs, looking impossibly trendy, good looking and icy cool - the way only Stockholmer’s can. But its well worth a visit if you want to mingle and listen to loud music. It has a beautiful view overlooking the water and is not one of Stockholm’s tourist traps. Usually I like bar hopping or going out to listen to bands, but if I feel like a big night out you might very well find me here on a Saturday night, apple martini in hand! The restaurant next door to the club is one of Stockholm’s best and also well worth a visit.


Hope you’ll make it to these places one day and if you do – I hope you will love them as much as I do. Always good to be “home” though!

Love as always,
Sara x x x x